"So what? In ten years at most, our two clans will merge into one."
Senju Wakama sounded completely unconcerned. He had styled Uchiha Yuki's hair simply today and was once again pinning a fresh flower into it.
Uchiha Yuki looked puzzled. "What exactly makes you so utterly convinced of this?"
It wasn't the first time she had heard Senju Wakama say something similar. But back then, her fear of him had overshadowed any other feelings. Now that their relationship had deepened, she couldn't help but probe for the root cause.
"Because..." Senju Wakama paused for a moment before continuing, "Because my younger sister, Tsukuyo, wants it to happen..."
"Your sister?" Uchiha Yuki frowned slightly. This wasn't the first time she'd heard Senju Wakama mention his almost mythical sister.
"Yes, my sister is of the Senju Clan," Senju Wakama stated matter-of-factly.
Uchiha Yuki looked utterly lost.
Right, Tsukuyo is the Senju princess, everyone knows that. Is that why Wakama trusts her judgment without question? Because she's a princess?
But then, Senju Wakama uttered something truly unbelievable.
He said, "Tsukuyo... is also of the Uchiha Clan."
Hearing this, Uchiha Yuki's eyes widened. "What did you say?"
Senju Wakama knew Tsukuyo's secret. Tsukuyo was still finding excuses to get close to Uchiha Madara, to touch Uchiha Madara. This implied that the bloodline Tsukuyo desired hadn't yet been obtained through touch.
But Senju Wakama believed Tsukuyo would surely find other ways. Sooner or later, she would manage to touch the Sharingan.
Once Tsukuyo awakened the Sharingan...
With her temperament and power, the Uchiha Clan wouldn't be able to escape her grasp.
However, even if he told Uchiha Yuki this, how could she possibly understand?
Senju Wakama didn't want to elaborate. He finished helping Uchiha Yuki with her disguise and smiled, "Yuki, I missed you..."
Yuki, still reeling from the shock, felt her mind explode at his words. Her face instantly flushed crimson, and she stared blankly at Senju Wakama, unsure how to respond.
Senju Wakama took her hands in his, a gentle, warm smile spreading across his face like the spring breeze. "I want..."
Uchiha Yuki: "..."
Within the Senju Clan's territory...
The entertainment street, designed and built by Tsukuyo, bustled with a ceaseless flow of carriages and people. Its prosperity and liveliness rivaled even the capital of the Land of Fire. The Senju Clan provided its own security, allowing visiting guests to relax and enjoy themselves without worry.
This street, centered around hot springs, resorts, food, and entertainment, had already become a dazzling hub of indulgence.
Beyond the hot springs, health retreats, and medical care services, Tsukuyo had also added festival grounds and casinos.
Before even entering the main Senju area, guests had to complete check-in procedures. During check-in, the Senju staff handling the process would provide guests with various experience vouchers for the day and casino chips.
At dusk, the festival area would come alive with various food stalls and vendors. Guests, clad in the special hot spring village yukata provided by the Senju Clan, could sample all the delicacies along the festival street for free.
It seemed free, but it was actually expensive.
Because upon checking in, the guests had already paid for everything. The cost of these "free samples" was factored into those fees.
Except for a few individuals with extraordinary appetites, most people ate within a normal range and simply couldn't consume that much. The meal fees they paid upfront were more than ten times the actual cost of the food.
Tsukuyo called this the "Buffet Strategy."
The sheer variety of gourmet food, with high-class dishes appearing endlessly, made the guests feel like visiting the Senju Clan was a great deal. Despite the high cost, they felt like they were the ones getting value.
Everyone's stomach capacity is limited; eating some things meant they couldn't eat others. The diverse selection overwhelmed the diners' choices, and most guests couldn't bring themselves to only pick the most expensive items from start to finish. No matter how much they wanted to eat their money's worth, they couldn't manage it. The number of those who truly binged was only about ten percent.
Ultimately, the Senju Clan was guaranteed a profit.
The Senju Clan listened to Tsukuyo, and their wealth grew continuously. Everyone treated her words as gospel. Whatever command Tsukuyo gave, the clansmen would execute it diligently, whether they fully understood it or not.
Now, this hot spring resort industry had branched out, becoming one of the Senju Clan's businesses that raked in profits daily.
At this very moment...
Tsukuyo was personally receiving a guest whose eyes were covered by a cloth strip – a handsome, refined man dressed in white.
This guest was a tall male with flowing black hair, wearing a white yukata and a dark blue haori, possessing an outstanding aura.
Tsukuyo still wore her hair in double buns, today adorned with Corncockle flowers. She was dressed in the standard Senju Clan women's attire, which she had once referred to as "Hanfu." Nowadays, all Senju women wore this style of clothing.
"This is the industry of our Senju Clan. How do you find it?"
Tsukuyo's smile was radiant.
Previously, when Hyuga Bai had asked Tsukuyo what she wanted, Tsukuyo, after some thought, decided to invite the Hyuga Clan to visit the Senju as guests. While framed as a visit, it was also intended to show the Hyuga Clan what kind of ninja clan the Senju had become.
Hyuga Toshihiro was from the Hyuga Main House and would rarely leave the clan grounds. Therefore, when Tsukuyo sent a very formal invitation, this task of experiencing the Senju hospitality fell to the "still recovering" Hyuga Bai.
Hyuga Bai belonged to a Hyuga Branch Family. Even if he encountered an accident and died, the Caged Bird Seal curse mark would activate instantly upon his death, protecting the Byakugan from falling into outsiders' hands.
At least, that's what Hyuga Toshihiro believed.
No one knew that Hyuga Bai had not only long since recovered from his injuries but was also free from the Caged Bird Seal.
The Hyuga Clan sent Hyuga Bai.
The Senju Clan assigned Tsukuyo to receive him.
"...Unbelievable," Hyuga Bai murmured, his head lowered.
The Senju Princess had stated that the Senju Clan was wealthy and powerful, having no desire whatsoever to covet anything from the Hyuga Clan. Simply put, the entire mess started because Hyuga Miyu had coveted Senju Wakama, leading to all the subsequent chaotic events.
As for the Byakugan... it was the Hyuga Clan's innate Kekkei Genkai. Even if the Senju truly coveted the Byakugan, they wouldn't just gouge out eyes to implant them; wouldn't marriage be the more likely route?
But the Hyuga Clan clung rigidly to tradition. Even when absorbing outsiders, the Hyuga bloodline had to remain within the Hyuga Clan. This was the fundamental cause of the conflict.
And now, Hyuga Bai felt he was beginning to understand why Hyuga Miyu had been so persistent regarding Senju Wakama.
This Senju Clan offered so much variety, making one reluctant to leave.
It's easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury back to frugality.
Once you've tasted the delicacies of the world, who would willingly return to hardship?
That was the cruel reality.
Hyuga Bai suddenly felt that the past version of himself, who had desperately tried to dissuade Hyuga Miyu, had been a fool.
"Hey~ Since you're here to experience life, don't look so troubled," Tsukuyo said cheerfully. "Come with me..."
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